Did you know?

90% of LGBT students regularly hear anti-gay comments at school; over a third hear these comments from staff.

LGBT youth are about four times more likely to skip school because they feel unsafe.

75% of the nation's teachers have received no training about the needs of LGBT students.

What is GLSEN

What does GLSEN do?

GLSEN creates learning environments that affirm the inherent dignity of all students, and, in so doing, teaches them to respect and accept all of their classmates - regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

GLSEN believes that the key to ending anti-gay prejudice and hate motivated violence is education. And It's for this reason that GLSEN brings together students, educators, families and other community members - of any sexual orientation - to reform America's educational system.

How does GLSEN do it?

Local Organizing for Local Results
Thousands of volunteers participate in our regional chapter network. Supported by the regional field offices in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco, these chapters work with the local school boards, principals, educators and school librarians to create positive change in hometown schools.

Impacting Public Policy, Shaping Public Opinion
Our Washington DC - based public policy office works with elected officials and educational policy leaders at the local, state and federal levels. The goal? To ensure that basic protections are in place for LGBT students, teachers and families. We also bring LGBT education issues into the court of public opinion through public awareness campaigns and coalition building.

Education the Educators
Today's students are tomorrow's parents, neighbors and voters. That's why GLSEN creates groundbreaking teacher training materials and inclusive curricular resources. By ensuring that today's teachers teach the lessons of respect for all, we ensure that the next generation of Americans will live in a world where anti-gay prejudice is an exception, not the rule.

Helping Students Fight for Rights
GLSEN's nationally recognized student organizing project provides support and resources to youth in even the most isolated of places. We support students as they form and lead gay-straight alliances - helping them to change their own school environments from the inside out.